Is international football still relevant?

I watched the England v Malta match yesterday, well it was on in the background while I was doing other things. I was amazed to see a crowd of over 80,000 announced during the coverage for a game that England should have won at a canter against a team ranked well outside of the top 100 in World football. To me it was a bit of a non-match that even the TV companies wight have thought twice about featuring. But the fact that Wembley was close to a sell-out has made me stop.

I thought before the match that international football was becoming irrelevant and that matches between the good teams and the bad were a waste of time. But 80,000+ at Wembley and millions of others on TV disagreed with me. Maybe there is something there after all.

I don't believe that the top players in the game see international football as the pinnacle of the game in the same way that they did when I was young. The big international tournaments see the best players turn up injured or fatigued beyond belief so that they don't perform at the peal of their game. I know we can point to what winning meant to Cristiano Ronaldo at the Euros in the summer with his country. But I can't see that being the same with many players. Would Ronaldo have through this way if he had never won anything at club level? It was the icing on the cake, rather than the cake itself.

The England players don't seem to play their normal game when it comes to international football. In the Premier League we are used to high tempo and a pressing game that leads to exciting football and great matches. But for whatever reason we don;t play that way in the international games. When we have pressing players such as Jordan Henderson, Jamie Vardy and Jesse Lingard then we should play that game. We need a high tempo against teams like Malta to make chances, pressurise the opposition and make the breakthroughs that change the game. It appears that players take a step back on the international stage and I don't know whether it is the players or the coach that breed that mentality. I would have loved to see what Sam Allardyce would have done with the players because I can't believe he would have let his players sit back and take it easy.

It is time for a change and I would look at wholesale change with these poor quality of opposition that we have in the group. There has never been a better time to discard the older players and look to the future. I can't see a place after the next World Cup for the likes of-

• Wayne Rooney
• Joe Hart
• Gary Cahill
• Theo Walcott

And I can't really see what any of them offer now, except for Rooney selling shirts for the FA and Cahill plugging a gap until something better comes along (Smalling and Phil Jones have never cut the mustard at the top level.) There just has to be a brighter future. The England fans that watched in their tens of thousands yesterday can be satisfied with a win but there was little else to excite. I like the way that Jesse Lingard plays the game but he needs more help. I would get Rashford and others on to the pitch and say to them "there you go, guys. You are the team for the next World Cup. Go out there and make it happen."

My Euro 16 team of the tournament

With the final only just over a day away it's time to look back over the Euro 16 tournament and select the best team. I have had a look through my notes and these are the eleven they I think have performed best-

Hugo Lloris has performed wonders as France goalkeeper and captain. He has captured the mood of the nation and kept his teammates calm when needed. A great influence.

Joshua Kimmich has been a bit of a revelation for me. I'd not seen much of him before Euro 16 but he has looked composed in defence and really useful in attack.

Ragnar Siggurdson is the player I have chosen to represent Ireland's success. He plays football the way it was played when I was a kid. No-nonsense and just good solid defending.

Georgio Chiellini played in his own style. He knows all the dark arts but is just a great defender as well. The Italian team looked like they could defend all day if needed and Chiellini was the best of this bunch.

Neil Taylor was an integral part of the success of the Wales team at Euro 2016. He defended brilliantly, caused problems on the flanks and got a goal - and it would have been two but for Courtois in the Belgium goal.

Eric Dier was the one bright spot in a dismal campaign for England. He looked the only world class player for England and had a massive impact. He did fail with the rest of the team against Iceland though.

Gareth Bale was phenomenal. Scored free kicks in the first two games on the back of his reputation - he scared the keepers into conceding! He ran the show for Wales but was always a part of the team. Must be able to claim he's at the top table now in world football.

Dimitri Payet has shone for France. He has demanded the ball and tried to make things happen. The winner in the first match followed by his tears of joy got Euro 16 started in style. A class player that West Ham will struggle to keep hold of.

Mesut Ozïl is more than the King of the assists - even though that would be enough on its own. He has worked hard, tracked back and driven his team forward. He looks the player he was at Real Madrid again.

Antione Greizmann looks like being the top scorer. He has an eye for goal but is a flair player too. His skill sets him apart from others and he might yet guide France to victory.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been at his best but it's still enough to secure his place in the team of Euro 16. He knows when to switch on the power and how to manage his body to get through to the next round. Time will tell if he lifts Portugal to the title.

What do you think? Agree of disagree? Let me know your thoughts and your top team of Euro 16 in the comments. I'd love to hear from you.